The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-20
TENNEssEE's DEATH.
What a School Boy Saw on His Way
Home One Summer Afternoon.


Home One Summer Afternoon.
From the 81. Louis Republican.
Did II ever strike any Of my readers
what weird, unCanny visions or rcmem-
brnces, what Nightmares, may say, that
u child underwent or experienced during
the late war, especially u child who lived
in border town or city where the ''rumors
OF wars" amounted To something more
than could be found in the columns OF
| newspaper where daily tho fanfare Of the
| bugle was mingled with the shrih pipe OF
| the fife and the rltaplan of the drum corps,
where glittering lines Of bayonets swaycd
in solid columns, where the chatter vi the
cavalry troop over the stony streets aud
| The rumble OF light batteries and the
| pageantry Of war sunk all other life and
customs into inspnilicancc. such was
II. Louis in '03 and 81, and even now, as
a grown man at the head OF Il small family,
| | can look back and in my minds eye
| picture myself. a sincwy, sun-burned little
elf who played at mimic var with lead
soldiers and spool cannon, who looked
forward to the time when he should be
able to load and fire musket NJ the acme
of boys existence.
Even the school to which | was sent was
intensely military, and, during recess we
were drilled in the manual of arms and
marched and countermarched and imbued
with such military spirit that We thought
ourselves and our wooden guns worthy OF
all the respect that was or should be
shown to veterans OF years campaign.
But We had all OF that licked out OF lis by
the principals twisted rattan, which he
brought into active use ii our eyes should
wander in Il contrary direction ut the COM
mand OF right dress" and we were
broken in much as mustang colts We're, or
Spartan youths, and taught 10 60 through
our PAGES by the rough hand of stern
m's'"r.
Prisoners of war, gaunt with famine, I'M
kemp, ana unwashcd, clothed with rgsand
suffering from frost bites aud fostering
wounds were no uncommon sights, and IL
it n wonder that my little heart was as tough
~ II shcll-bark hickory? and that | could
view men shot down at my very feet with
scarcely q twingc? land will confess ~
with something OF an cxultant feeling that
! could tell INV schO0lmltes with certain
feeling OF pride that | saw II with my own
ewes and for u short space | could be tho
hero OF listening group until some other
incident would throw me into the baek-
ground and place its narraler on my ped
es,al.
Such in brief were the scenes and daily
lie OF lad in 81. Louis during the re-
bpllion.
\ city divided in its sentiments, and
every mans hand against his ncighbor,
when. upon breath Of suspicion you
were hurled into the ugly vaults of the
: old Mcdowell college," rcchristencd
"Gutiot Street prison" and liable us u
suspect TO coniiscaiion or banishmcnt'
81 lived on Eighth and Choutcau avenue,
and right opposite was "A United states
government barracks in which lived,
D dwclt and had their being, a regiment OF
two of soldiers, whose duty II was 10 kccT
guard over said prison, and To that en-,
they performed their duty well.
D Every morning ! was walked 10y the rev
c ellie. and from the meadow back Of The
bas lie and prison, came the sharp crash .
: muskrtry when the night wcaricu sentinel
e discharged their pieces, preparatory i'
I. breakfast and rst.
e knew every bualc and drum call. AM
I ~ rapidly rs the regiments were change,
}, jus, 10 rapidly did | jorni new acquaint
= unccs. One remarkable thing struck mc
Young ~ was. and that was the fact tha
the troops seemed 90 entertain no feeling
Of hostility toward their enemies, bu
seemed rather 10 speak Of them In bus
a ness light, and, whenever 10 WIS IN thrl
? power. Offered them any little kindnro
q that they could. This struck me ns hrin
y peculiar, that men who were engaged u
u cutting each other threats should not d
y least cyince ~ much bitterness ns thUr
n seemed "a hN among civilians who Wng
n oppYsrd To clth other politically
8. and, save inr that sentiment, had pro
/, yiousy lived together as amiclbly rs bird
], in their little nests.
b Aiy natural dc.ir. for making acquaiui
u ancps had put mc ON terms Oi intimar
p with
10 4 TALL, HHoAp-gUoULrrgEp Hiouig NNDFr
- who was a sergeant iu the Federal service
. lud whose r1Dm On Zoe barracks was CON
= iorubly fitted mp wi|tahlmmock and blI
= ri rhlir and cracker boxes
= frequently swung iu the hammock mn
I" was the delighted recipient % an ebony
.' handled dirk mot over sharp, nni
y would listen by ihc hour iD tales Of M
= fur, and camp lie as related b. NY MIcn
y gambler
o. ( have no donh, bu, that he was q maj
y rird man and hal % Dc oi little Michigan
= dcrs aud geese living in hm n0r,Ayr
y home.
+ Nor was the 'Gw'iol street prison" vit
z" ~ irpn grated windows and tc'niing iI
~ mates altogether barren of results in m
y hunt inr iIruls AMI regularly every day
" runycrsgi with q igii. lgnk Icnur-sl i1
u dh in bgitmui h1n~pun, and who's
" black hair i'll in luNur.Iut Fn-c~iivyna
y over zinc lDf.hrli blanchri with pail,
ls lfum long confinement. From across Oh
, xr,.t We would chat aud carry on ot
pa commercial discussion. lOr br IL know
70 tia. acted W. agent in the disposal {
/, certain articles Of "hisp,ry and virtue
:, ihU shape OF gn,a p'frhl rings aud WOO
' rlryur, Which, when siIl, kept him ui
his r,om matJs in pocket money. ami a
Ibcl m1 20 play no" pIr. "l q mlni-icr.t
tn"H such .u Then suited my luvcni
'h ambition.
ny "Mirmm am knew "Tgnn0s'c." ar
in nriul as q gp.hptvcDn, NJ furtUi gm'rCur
.d aud there VISA bond 1T sympathy bctWyt
DC us lhlt ! Ctn only explain on tlln pout
r tHit hulh ul them W.v married mon, ur
~ w.h that ache that must b. when, by %
r Stern rules Oi late They arc drbIu'd irl
''r meeting ihpif loved ones, and s'. prriur
" thty muH ncr,ls bo content With such
40 | pal,1s sctprgficu suhf.iiu'r ls myself.
g. ruUf "l,nnyN e. ho never saw u
80. mountain h0mu again, uuIU.s iu thg. u
81 q ,.i moment In hi5 mind, between &.
lH words "llelly' aud "hr," marl
ni Providence, hid. ~ in a dnam. painted
~ u .lurr hifsafiing cychalis, ere The lgIl0
ng d. ith hld bIottrd 0ut his l.lo forever.
Ne Nhy ! went on ] cannot trll. uyg Oh
w. my viii WIS ppwrrlcts lut Turn I did, OIL.
ri Whuu hal rlaiu.d my s,nss sYmCWh
~, lolal myself side by side With "Mir.
~ rin," keeping iimc with th'. mulll